Meaning & Origins

Transferred use of the surname, in origin an occupational name for a carter or cartwright, from Old English wægen ‘cart, waggon’. It was adopted as a given name in the second half of the 20th century, mainly as a result of the popularity of the American film actor John Wayne (1907–79), who was born Marion Michael Morrison; his screen name was chosen in honour of the American Revolutionary general Anthony Wayne (1745–96).